Abstract: A shock absorbing suspension comprises a pair of parallel, spaced mounting plates (12), pairs of counter-rotating D-frames (13). Pair of frames is slidably attached to the inner side of the mounting plate 12' by two grippers 14 of the mounting plate 12 by two grippers 19. Resistance mechanism (65 and 66) are mounted on each gripper for substantially resisting the rotation of each individual frame in one direction only, such that the suspension will substantially resist being compacted together, but can be freely extended apart. In one application, the bottom mounting plate is attached to the ground, while the top mounting plate is attached to and supports a building. When at rest, the resistance mechanisms will provide enough resistance to allow the suspension to support the building without being compacted. When the ground jolts upwardly in an earthquake, the suspension will be compacted to absorb the upward motion of the ground. But, when the ground jolts downwardly, the suspension will freely extend.

Abstract: An automobile window shade system comprises a frame (20) formed of hollow horizontal elements (20a through 20d) and hollow vertical elements (22a through 22f) interconnected by T-shaped connectors (24a through 24f). The frame is installed inside the automobile and contains a beaded cord (128) with beads or expansions (130) rigidly attached to the cord. Two adjacent shades (142 and 144) are made of a light-impermeable flexible material and are attached to a yoke. An embodiment with a beaded thread (128) and an expandable spring-loaded C-shaped portion of the yoke makes it possible to shield and unshield windows selectively by fixing the yoke and pulling the beaded cord through the spring-loaded C-shaped hole of the yoke. As a result, the shades are shifted to a new initial position and then moved from this new position.

Abstract: An automobile window shade system comprising a frame (20) formed of horizontal tubular elements (20a through 20c) and vertical tubular elements (22e through 22f) interconnected by T-shaped connectors (24a through 24f). The frame is installed inside the automobile body and contains a cord (42) guided through a plurality of guiding means (64, 66, and 68). Two adjacent shades (94 and 96) which are made of a light-impermeable flexible material are attached to a yoke (84). One end of the yoke is located inside the vertical tubular element (22e through 22f) between two stops (88 and 90) which are rigidly attached the cord. The cord is also connected to a handle (110). When the handle (110) is moved in the window shading direction, it moves the cord (42) and hence the stops (88 and 90). When the upper stop (88) comes into contact with the yoke (84) it moves the yoke and the shields (94 and 96) down, thus shading the windows.

Abstract: A shock absorbing suspension comprises a pair of parallel, spaced mounting plates (12), two pairs of counterrotating D-frames (13), and two connecting bars (11). Each pair of frames is slidably attached to the inner side of one of the mounting plates by two grippers (14). The scissoring connecting bars are disposed between the pairs of frames to link the frames together. A resistance mechanism (65) is mounted on each gripper for substantially resisting the rotation of each individual frame in one direction only, such that the suspension will substantially resist being compacted together, but can be freely extended apart. In one application, the bottom mounting plate is attached to the ground, while the top mounting plate is attached to and supports a building. When at rest, the resistance mechanisms will provide enough resistance to allow the suspension to support the building without being compacted.